The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-06-07


A few minutes hunt convinced them
that all Mexican Joe had said about its
abundance was true. The sand, as far
as could be judged without an assay.
was rich. Several hours were passed
in collecting specimens, and then the
party started back to meet the wagon.
Knowing they had sufficient supply
of water in the barrels in the wagon,
the horses had been literally watered
from the canteens, and the party had
drank freely. This had nearly ex-
hausted the supply with them. 1t was
night when they reached the point
where they had agreed to meet the
wagon, but no wagon was in sight Ii
was subsequently learned that Mexican
Joe had at the last moment repented OF
telling the secret of the gold, and that
he had become suspicious of his part
ners. fearing they would leave him out
in the cold and defraud him of his
share. This fear moved him so sud-
denly and strongly that in a moment
of regret and despair he determined to
leave his partners to horrible fate out
On the waterless desert. Then again
he would be the only owner of the Sc
cret of the gold dust. He therefore
turned his back upon the meeting
place, and took the trail back to San
Antonio Springs.
1t is not difficult to imagine the feel
ings of the three men when they found
that the wagon was not at the agreed
meeting place. Numerous were the
conjectures why it was not there. No
one believed that Mexican Joe had lost
his way, for the trail was too plain
sailing, and the point of rocks where
they were to meet never out of sight.
They thought perhaps that the snug
glers who skirt the desert had followed
the wagon trail and murdered their
guide; that some poisonous snake had
killed him; that he had been taken
suddenly ill; in fact, they conjured up
every reason for his absence but the
right one. That they never once
thought of. They cursed their ill luck,
as we'll they might, for their posi-
ton was very desperate one. They
were ninety miles from water, under a
burning sun, and scarcely cupful left
in the three canteens. Besides, they
had nothing to eat but two small tor
tillas. The miner, who was man of
considerable nerve and energy, at last
said: There is nothing for it but to go
as far as possible tonight" and the
party started on their almost hopeless
journey across the vast plain. After
going thirty miles, the bronchos, which
had up to that time been led, were un-
saddled and bridled. and left to find
their way to water if they could. When
morning came the party sat down to
rest. They divided the torillas equally,
and each took a sip of water. They
had gone about forty miles. The sun
was now so hot it was decided that it
was better to wait until evening before
resuming their journey. At nightfall
the party again struggled onward.
Twenty-Five miles were accomplished,
but the pangs of thirst were terrible.
The merchants tongue began to swell
and crack. The miner could only
speak in whispers, and Swiss Joe was
the picture of stole despair. All three
were very much chafed and foot-sore;
but the merchants feet were covered
with blisters, the soles of his light
shoes having been torn off from travel
ing on the rough ground.
On the morning of the second day
the party staggered blindly onward.
Occasionally they would sink down on
the burning sand to rest, only, how
ever. to get up again a moment later,
as the thought of perishing there rose
before them. On that day and the
third night they travelled twenty miles,
and were now but FIVE miles from water.
But these miles seemed as if they were
a thousand. The merchants tongue
now filled his mouth and throat
and threatened to choke him.
Swiss Joe could scarcely crawl. His
eyes were bloodshot and he was out of
his mind. The miner could not speak.
He would stagger ten feet and then
fall backward. On becoming conscious
he would creep under cactus for
shade. The party made one mile in
seven and half hours, when, by mere
chance, they were found by body of
Mexican Custom House guards.
The three gold hunters were taken
to a camp some miles off, where they
stayed until able TO return to FL Paso.
The miner, who suffered the most,
said that on the third day he thought
he was walking through fire. and that
when he laid down in the shade of the
cacti he could hear running water and
see table covered with smoking dishes
and iced wines, over which a little
Mexican dog kept guard and would
not let him touch any thing. The suf-